Re: [PSUBS-MAILIST] Dive scooter as propulsion unit for wetsub.

[SIMON WALKDEN <mrsym0r@gmail.com>]

I considered this a while ago, but then some further investigation
showed up a couple of things:

1 : alot of diver propulsion vehicles are only rated for about 20
metres depth (roughly 55 feet), which for a submersible, isn't really
deep at all.

2 : the batteries last approximately 40 minutes.

3 : they don't produce a hell of a lot of thrust.

4 : Comparing the cost to a modified Minn Kota or similar, they're
pretty expensive.



On Apr 2, 2005 2:22 PM, Akins <lakins1@tampabay.rr.com> wrote:
>  
> Hi everyone. 
>   
> Just got my dive scooter in the mail today. It is a Sea Doo VS supercharged.
> It has two speeds and will pull a diver thru the water on low speed at 2
> miles per hour and 
>   
> on turbo speed at 3 miles per hour. It has an adjustable buoyancy chamber
> that you can leave empty if you want the unit to float for snorkeling or add
> weight to it for diving. 
>   
> It has lots of other neat features that I won't bore you with right now. I
> just read the manual and ran it and am going to totally discharge the
> factory precharged battery so that 
>   
> I know it is totally drained and then will recharge it. 
>   
> I plan to attach the Sea Doo VS supercharged to the rear of my 12 ft two
> person fiberglass wet sub. By using a stainless control cable line that was
> used to turn a outboard motor, I plan to be able to 
>   
> remotely access the two triggers on the Sea Doo from my dashboard. It will
> probably be a bit slower than I would like because it is designed to pull a
> person, not a wetsub with two people thru the water. 
>   
> But if it works well enough to push the sub as fast as a diver can normally
> swim I will be happy. If this experiment works I plan to buy another one and
> have dual propulsion to increase 
>   
> my speed. I forget who suggested this some time ago to me on this forum, but
> someone did and it makes good sense. By using the Sea Doo VS supercharged
> scooter it is already rated 
>   
> for 30 meters (100 ft.), does not need to be pressure compensated, and has a
> nice streamline shape and requires no battery pod or battery pod
> equalization. Run time is an hour and a half. I was susposed to use the
> scooter  
>   
> tomorrow on our search for a sunken sub off Egmont key that I mentioned
> earlier, but the weather is not cooperating. Heavy winds and high seas
> predicted. So we are rescheduling for hopefully 
>   
> tuesday when the weather is susposed to be better. This german sub we are
> looking for is not susposed to be there. All the experts say it can't be
> there. I just don't know, but I am going to go look. Can't hurt! 
>   
> The fellow I am going with swears he dove on it in 1970. He was one of Mel's
> divers on the Atochia. If it is there it might be covered by silt by now. We
> will see. The way I look at it, there is no such thing as a bad dive 
>   
> as long as everyone is ok when it is over. If we find something, fine. If
> not? That's ok too. For me it's not finding the treasure that's the
> adventure. It's the adventure that's the treasure! 
>   
> If the scooter works well and I get another one and that solves all my
> propulsion and speed problems, I will have a brand new, 74 lbs thrust
> minnkota trolling motor with an 11 inch weedless wedge 
>   
> prop available to sale. I also have two about 5 ft long 12 inch (yes 12
> inch!) diameter 1/4 inch thick pvc pipes. I also have the permanent end cap
> and the threaded female fitting for the other end along 
>   
> with the male plug for that female fitting. Nothing is glued or drilled yet.
> Everything you need plus an extra pipe for a battery pod and strong motor. I
> want to make sure my scooter ideas work for the sub first before I sell off
> my other 
>   
> parts though. If the scooters work out then I will let you all know in case
> anyone here might want to purchase a motor and pod parts for their sub
> project. If my first single scooter doesn't work like I want for the sub, 
>   
> and I have to scratch the scooter/sub idea and go back to my minnkota with
> battery pod, that is ok. I wanted a scooter for diving anyway. Plus if they
> work on the sub, I plan to make them easily detachable from the 
>   
> sub so I can use them for diving without the sub. Which brings me back to
> what someone mentioned here a while back when they told me to just strap
> several scooters onto the sub and be able to detach them and have them 
>   
> serve dual duty as both sub propulsion and as dive scooters. Who was it that
> mentioned that to me? If you are reading this remind me will you? I need to
> know who to thank for the idea. 
>   
> Kindest Regards, 
>   
> Bill Akins.



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